Ghostly Pursuits

What Color Is A Ghost On A Thermal Camera? (Finally Explained)

Thermal cameras can be a great tool when you want to gather evidence during your ghost hunting sessions. I often recommend these gadgets to newcomers that really want to prove the existence of ghosts in their area Photographic evidence is essential in these investigations. We tend to trust our sight far more than our other senses, and a photograph is proof that something was in the room. It is then up to you to determine if it is a ghost or a more logical phenomenon. The problem is that many new ghost hunters don’t actually know what to look for I am often asked what color a ghost is on a thermal camera. So, let me take you through what to expect.

So what color is a ghost on a thermal camera?

The colour can be anywhere from bright to dark blue and purple. Normally, we’d look for warm colours in the red and yellow range however when it comes to ghosts, the principles of thermal images do not apply.

The normal rules of thermal images don’t apply here

Generally speaking, we tend to use thermal images to look for living creatures rather than dead spirits. Those of us that are familiar with thermal technology — or that have seen enough nature documentaries — know that nocturnal visitors are brightly colored against darker backgrounds. The heat from the body transforms a previously invisible being into a patchwork of color. The hottest areas show up as whites and yellow, fading into oranges and reds. This can be quite alarming in itself for first-time users. The make-up of the image reflects the thermal regulation of the body, rather than its actual shop. Colder extremities, such as hands and noses, can be much darker.

It is important that we understand this idea of color and scale on a thermal image because this helps us to identify potential ghosts and paranormal activity within a horn. The difference with ghosts is that they can appear much darker. The trick here is to look for an area in the image that isn’t the right color, typically on a colder scale than the surroundings.

Why do we need to look for these colder colors when searching for ghosts?

There are two key factors to consider here. First of all, ghosts aren’t going to behave in the same way as living beings on a thermal camera. The obvious difference here is that these spirits no longer have the same circulatory system pumping warm blood through their veins. They don’t give off body heat like a living human because they don’t have a body anymore. This is the first reason why we need to turn away from the bright warm colors on a thermal imaging system.

The second factor here is that ghosts are famed for making the air much colder. That chill that you get when you enter a haunted room isn’t necessarily completely psychological. Ghosts draw energy from the atmosphere as they move around, which in turn leads to moments and patches of coldness. If you have a thermal camera set up to record the room, it might just catch these moments and temperature changes. Again, you can look out for colder colors that seem out of place in a warmer area Greens, blues, and purples are all possible.

Remember that a weird cold patch in a room isn’t guaranteed to be a ghost

I need to point this out before you run off and claim every anomaly on a thermal image as paranormal activity. Unexplained cold regions could indicate the presence of ghosts within a room, especially if they don’t stick around. However, we always have to look at the logical explanations before we can support a paranormal theory. Is there any other explanation for a cold spot. Is there any air conditioning or a draft from a gap in the wall?

Ghosts can be different colors so stay vigilant

This short guide might not offer the clear cut answer that you were hoping for. There is no specific color that you can look for to prove the existence of ghosts. They aren’t 100% guaranteed to be teal or indigo. The important thing to remember here is to look for areas of color that don’t match their environment, especially if they cannot be explained. The more you use your thermal camera, the easier it will be to understand these thermal signatures. Keep filming and analyzing the footage. One day, some oddly-colored haze will appear that might just be the proof you were after.

If you’d like to do some nerdy research, here’s an interesting guide from Flir.